Come with me to the beautiful Garden Route, and let us take a scenic trip back in time, my friends...
...Let us journey into the majestic Outeniqua Mountains, and follow the pass built ever so many years ago...
Let us revel in the richness of our Lord's glorious creation, and behold the splendour of His majesty in the works of His hands...
~
...In the distance lies the town of George...
One crisp Sunday morning we decided to pack a simple picnic and take a leisurely drive into the Outeniqua Mountains...
We thought we would take the old route through the spectacular Outeniqua mountains along the road that first connected George and Oudshoorn...
The Montagu Pass was opened in 1848, and was declared a national monument in 1974...
The narrow gravel roads, sharp bends, steep ascent and exquisite scenery appealed to us from the very beginning.
Whilst we drove along, exclaiming in excitement at the beauty before our eyes, we imagined what it must have been like to live in those days...
How sad that magnificent steam trains no longer use the railway line which runs parallel to the road at one point... Isn't this bridge amazing?
At the end of the Montague Pass lies the tiny farming settlement of Herold...
We decided to picnic there in a quiet spot before driving home...
Stopping for a snack...
~
I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into our Sunday afternoon outing, and
experienced a little of the incredibly extensive beauty of South Africa...
Again and again I am reminded of how blessed I am to live in such an extraordinary
part of the world...
I love the harshness of the landscape; the pattern the indigenous trees and shrubs form as they fight for survival on the dry cracked soil of the Little Karoo...
"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
- Psalm 118:24
I never thought I would come to love this part of the world as much as I do now - my dreams have always been filled with the rolling green hills of the English countryside, but more and more the Lord is showing me the intricacy and richness of the beauty here...
The beauty is different...it is harsh, but I love it for what it is, and my heart is filled with the glory of
God's awe-inspiring creation and I praise Him for placing me right here.
Gorgeous Protea...
~
I will be taking a short blogging break this week, sweet friends...
I look forward to returning, for I have a few deliciously nourishing recipes I wish to share...
However, I will still be around to visit you!
I look forward to returning, for I have a few deliciously nourishing recipes I wish to share...
However, I will still be around to visit you!
May you be blessed and filled with the joy of the Lord!
Blessings in Christ,
~ The heavens decalre the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalm 19:1 ~
Information Source: Mountain Passes South Africa
~ The heavens decalre the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalm 19:1 ~
Information Source: Mountain Passes South Africa
Oh my goodness, what a beautiful part of the world! Thank you for sharing your country excursion with us Kelly-Anne! I hope you enjoy your break...looking forward to seeing those yummy recipes you'll be sharing :)
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos! There's something interesting about the "harsh beauty!"
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly-Anne, wow thank you for sharing those beautiful photos of where you live. I love the mountains and trees. It looks so peaceful there. Enjoy your week and blogging break.
ReplyDeleteJulie xo
What a lovley trip through the mountains! You do live in a beautiful part of the world! You are a wise young woman Kelly-Anne...to have already learned the importance of accepting and loving the place God has placed you. You sound very content and happy to be right where you are. So sad that some folks spend a lifetime wishing for bigger and better things than what God has seen fit to bless them with. I don't think anyone can know true joy until they are truly happy and content with where they already are and what they already have. You are wise beyond your years...:) Have a lovely week and enjoy your blogging break. I look forward to you return my sweet friend!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Vicky
Thank you for taking us on this beautiful road trip with you and your family. You are right, you do live in an interesting and lovely part of the world.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your break...Shirley
Thank you for this beautiful glimpse into your area in South Africa. I love trains, too, and I always lament to see an unused railway. - It just doesn't make sense to me. And the bridge is a fabulous piece of architecture on it's own.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week!
Beautiful scenery! Thank you for showing that to us who live so far away. Have a wonderful week kelly-Anne!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful places you have shared Kelly-Anne. Oh my goodness, the beauty of Our Lord's creation is overwhelming :0) mari
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly Anne, what a gorgeous place that you live! I too feel so close to God when amongst his creations! Where ever we travel hubby and I get off of the freeways and take the back roads just so we can explore beautiful places like this. Sounds like you had an amazing day!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Beautiful and stunning scenery! There is beauty everywhere, we just have to open our eyes to see it. That's something I have to remind myself of often, as where we live is not the most beautiful place in the world, BUT there are some pretty places. And that's what I have to remind myself of, and to be content where I am for right now, though it can and may change in the future. For right now, this is where the Lord has me and my family planted.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that sweet reminder, dear friend! It is always a blessing to visit you :) Enjoy your break! I know it's nice to just step away sometimes and then come back so much more refreshed and renewed! :)
Hoping you have a beautifully blessed week!
Sending you much love and many blessings <3
(PS- I thought I would let you know that my dad's x-rays came back fine. His cancer has not spread- praise the Lord- and the plans for surgery are still a go. His consultation to find out when is in about 6 weeks. Thank you for your sweet friendship and prayers!)
Beautiful pictures, you are very blessed to live in such a pretty place.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful, majestic scenery! :D I especially enjoy seeing it from your talented photographer's eye.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week of rest from blogging. "See" you next week. :)
Such beautiful photos, Kelly dear. Thank you for sharing some of history behind these wondrous places....I really enjoyed this post!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely, peaceful break time, and I am excited to see what you have to share on your return.
Sending hugs.... and sunshine from my veeery toasty part of the states :)
Thank you for sharing these amazing landscape photos, Kelly-Anne. It's so easy to take our surroundings for granted so I'm endeavoring to be a tourist in my own city!
ReplyDeleteDearest Kelly-Anne, such majestic beauty surrounds you! Thank you so much for giving us a peek into your lovely world through your photos :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy your little blogging break, my friend. I look forward to your delicious recipes. Much love to you!
Wow! These photographs are breathtaking! I can't even imagine how it would feel to see this amazing landscape in person!! I love seeing God's incredible handiwork in nature!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful insight into your part of the world. How did you come to be living in South Africa. I've always pictured Africa as (lions, elephants, giraffe's - you know "safari" stuff) - The rocky hillside here is stark but beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I love them! Thank you for sharing them with us.
ReplyDeleteOh, this is just the kind of tour that makes my heart go "pitter-patter", lol! I love getting out into the mountains, and away from the main roads, and seeing the beauty of the creation around us! It was wonderful to get a glimpse of scenery such as surrounds you there in South Africa, and to imagine how tough those plants and trees must be to survive in such terrain. Thank you for taking us along on the lovely drive, and your sweet little sister's face is so cute as she enjoys her lunch! Much love and hugs, and enjoy your blogging break :)
ReplyDeleteHello, Thank you for sharing part of your beautiful world with us. When I look on the map at the distance between us, I am thankful to have met you through blogging and to view your magnificent pictures!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you shared photos! What an amazing part of the world to live in. And muffins for a snack :-9 Looks like you had such a fun day!
ReplyDeleteOh, what a glorious and majestic part of this beautiful world God created! I loved the tour and also loved the little "snack time" photo! Oh, sweet Kelly-Anne, it's good you are taking a little break...even though we shall miss you. But enjoy the time of refreshment, dearest Kelly-Anne! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteWow. What a beautiful post, Kelly-Anne! Thanks again so much for sharing!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting me come along on your drive through the beautiful countryside with you. I'm so glad that you have learned to appreciate the beauty of South Africa. Enjoy your blogging break, sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteDear Kelly Ann what breath taking beauty on every hand! Only our great Creator can make such marvels!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing the joy of your trip with us!
Have a wonderful weekend!
God bless!
What a delightful treat to have the privilege of you sharing your beautiful photography capturing the landscape and terrain of your beautiful South Africa. It is an area I wish I knew more about and am so glad to get to see glimpses of it through your blog, especially to get to read of history of a mountain pass like this and other gems within the land there. Those mountains are absolutely breath-taking.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to stop for a picnic, as well. It looks like someone is enjoying their lunch ;) So cute!
I enjoyed your post so much and am inspired by your words of growing love for the uniquely rugged beauty of the land around you. It is definitely a place to be in awe and admiration of.
I wanted to thank you much for your comments that always cheer my heart to read!! I enjoyed your most recent comment, it was such a delight to see, and I wanted to wish you to be well very soon and that the Lord wills that your sore throat will go away! Praying for your wellness, dear friend, and that your blogging break is a restful one. I look forward to your return :) God bless you.
Hoping you have a blessed weekend!!
Your sister in Christ,
Jazzmin
Inspiring indeed dear Kelly-Anne!
ReplyDeleteSouth Africa looks like such a beautiful country - I would love to visit one day.
Love and blessings
Shane x
Hi Kelly Anne, What a beautiful and peaceful outing of your gorgeous area. Your photos are stunning and you are so very talented with your camera. Each scene is a treasure. Love the sweet pic of your sister having a snack. Too adorable.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this part of your beautiful world. Enjoyed catching up.
Blessings to you and sending big hugs your way. cm
Beautiful photos, beautiful country. Thank you for sharing your corner of the world in such a lovely way. ~ Abby
ReplyDelete